CLINTON – After Presbyterian Christian fell short in Game 2 of the state championship series, pitcher Bankston Walters approached his head coach Jarrett Hoffpauir with a clear message.
“If we want to win this game, you are giving me the ball,” said the junior, who repeated the firm statement multiple times.
Understandably, it didn’t take much convincing for Hoffpauir.
“It wasn’t the final decision, but when a guy like that wants the ball, he’s getting the ball,” Hoffpauir said.
Walters made good on his word and delivered a complete game to help lead the Bobcats to their first-ever state title as PCS defeated Hartfield Academy 9-4 in Game 3 of the MAIS Class 6A State Championship at Frierson Field on Saturday night.
“It’s been a long time coming," Hoffpauir said. "Every single year, these kids have continued to buy in with what they are doing and have continued to get better. Every single year, we saw progress and growth in some guys. Last year, we got a taste of it. Going into this year, we had some puzzle pieces that we didn’t really know how to put together, but we finally figured it out. We played some really good baseball at the end of the year."
Just two days after throwing 85 pitches in a complete game Wednesday, Walters returned to the mound on short rest — and showed no signs of fatigue as he struck out eight batters and gave up one eanred run off five hits.
“Me as a pitcher, my team looks to me as a leader,” Walters said. “I feel that need for that spark to get the team and the fans going. These guys need me to give them that spark and motivation. Baseball is a tough game, and you have to have that want to and that fire.”
The Bobcats gave Walters an early 1-0 lead after Reed Bridges put them on the board with a two-out RBI double in the second inning. Walters had a no-hitter going into the fourth, but a throwing error allowed Hartfield Academy (28-8) to tie the game.
“He’s just a leader,” Bridges said of Walters. “He fires us up. He’s the heart of this team. We just love him. He’s our identity.”
Later in the fifth inning, PCS extended its lead with an RBI single from Jet Henderson. However, the Bobcats broke the game open in the sixth with Kade Welford laying down a bunt in a suicide squeeze to score a run, which was then followed by Henderson hitting a 2-run single.
Bridges added insurance runs in the seventh inning as he capped off the night with a grand slam. The Hawks managed to plate three late runs in the bottom of the seventh, but two were from an error, with the other being Walters’ second allowed earned run of the entire postseason.
Walters finished the postseason with 34 strikeouts in 25 innings, giving up just 17 hits and no walks.
“I know people are going to be critical of our coaches about it,” Walters said. “I don’t want anybody to say anything about our coaches giving me the ball on short rest. That was all me. I understand the risk that was going on. Everybody knew that I wanted the ball. Our coaches have gotten criticism about it. That was my decision, and we knew that. We communicated well with how my arm felt.”
The victory was especially meaningful, as the Bobcats fell short to Jackson Prep in Game 3 of the MAIS title game last year.
“It gives me chills thinking about what we just did,” Walters said. “We were so close against a really good Prep team. “You come out here thinking we’ve been here before. I think it helped more than it hurt us. We knew we’ve been here before.
“We were crazily calm. We knew what we needed to do.”
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